VILLAGE OF CORTLAND CHARTER ELECTION

Main Street, Village of Cortland, about 1899.

Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, March 11, 1896.

PAGE TWO—EDITORIALS.

The Charter Election.

   The local political kaleidoscope has taken another sudden and to many, a surprising turn. The straight Republican ticket, which last year was beaten by the good government or citizens' ticket, is this year beaten, save two candidates, by a fusion of Democrats, saloonists and many Republicans who were intent on "downing" certain self-constituted factional leaders, who were generally credited with the nomination of the village ticket and would have claimed all the credit for its election.

   Mr. Benton, for village president, on account of his personal strength, and

Mr. Warfield, who had both the Republican and Citizens' nominations for trustee in the second ward, are elected. All the rest of the ticket, including some most excellent candidates, is defeated.

   The retirement of Justice Bull will be regretted by every one who has known of the impartial and admirable manner in which he has administered the office, and who has believed him entitled to the endorsement of a re-election. The majority against him is only 17, just about the size of the majority by which he defeated Mr. Mellon when they first ran as opposing candidates—a defeat which was inexcusable from a Republican standpoint. Mr. Mellon is even better qualified for the office now than he was then, and it ought to be, and undoubtedly will be, a point of pride with him to show that the administration of criminal law in the village is not to suffer by the change in police justices.

   The defeat of Mr. Wallace for commissioner of Union Free school District

No. 1 is a public misfortune. His experience of fifteen years, his devotion to the interests of the schools, the pride he has taken in them, the faithfulness with which he has discharged the duties of the office, his business ability, excellent taste and judgment and independence of thought and action all combined to make him a school officer who could not well be spared. While the three commissioners elected will make valuable members of the board, the friends of none of them would claim that he combines all the qualifications named in so eminent a degree as Mr. Wallace.

   But the disaster throughout was not the fault of the nominees, and however unreasonable may have been the action which defeated good men in order to punish obnoxious ones, the people are bound to have their way, and under the present ballot law every provision is made for their having it. If the result teaches the lesson that the party will not stand petty bossism and arrogant dictation, and leads to an attempt to harmonize differences and adopt fair methods, it may not be without good results in the end.

A Dangerous Habit.

   The health authorities of the cities of Philadelphia and New York are conducting a serious crusade against the indecent habit of spitting in public places. The bacteriologists of the New York board have submitted a report, which the board adopted, that the universal American expectorative habit, outside of being horribly offensive to refined taste, is dangerous. The germs of every deadly and loathsome disease known to the medical profession may be communicated in this way. The expectorator is therefore a steady menace to the public health. The dried sputa of the diseased person floats upon the air in the dust of public conveyances, and is breathed in by the delicate nostrils of the babe, the high bred lady, or the cleanest and most dainty of men. They cannot help themselves. They are liable every day to take catarrh, diphtheria, grip or consumption, or any other disease that may be communicated.

   The danger is really much graver than the public is generally aware. For this reason the New York board of health require signs to be placed in cars and public conveyances and public assembly rooms, requesting all people to refrain from polluting doors and staircases in the way they have done heretofore. That such expectoration is not necessary is proved by the fact that the men of other nations are not guilty of it. Neither are all Americans.

A PROTEST RAISED.

Residences of Voters in Third Ward Not Taken.

   The board of village trustees met this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the office of the clerk to canvass the vote of yesterday's election. Immediately after the board was called to order Prof. D. L. Bardwell stated that he appeared before the board as the representative of certain citizens who desired to raise a question in regard to some things relating to the returns from the Third ward. The law requires that the name and street and number of every voter should be taken at the time of voting. In some cases the street and number had not been taken. Heretofore the Second ward had always cast a larger vote than the Third ward. This year such was not the case. There might be a possibility that some of those people whose street and number were not taken might be illegal voters in that ward, and the returns might be illegal. Prof. Bardwell did not raise this question in the interest of any one candidate.

   John Courtney, Jr., appeared before the board and quoted from the law and decisions of the court of appeals to the effect that the duty of the board of canvassers was purely ministerial. They could not consider any such question as that raised by Prof. Bardwell. Their duties were wholly to certify to returns made by the inspectors. They could not challenge or question a single vote cast. Such a question as that raised by Prof. Bardwell was purely a judicial question and must be settled by the courts if by any one. If returns were defective they could be sent back to the inspectors to correct them, but this board of canvassers could not interfere with a single vote. It could only count and certify to. The neglect of a poll clerk to perform his duties properly would only subject him to punishment, but would not affect the vote.

   E. C. Alger appeared before the board as the representative of the citizens' committee of the independent movement. He raised the same question as that raised by Prof. Bardwell and filed his objections. The document was received and the canvass of the votes proceeded.

   Fifteen minutes later Mr. Alger returned and in behalf of Prof. D. L. Bardwell, secretary of the citizens' committee, presented a lengthy protest to the declaring of any persons elected at this election and petitioning for a new election. The protest covered several type written pages and included eleven specifications. It charged illegality and fraud in the election.

   Judge Knox was sent for by the board and the question was laid before him and his reply to the propositions placed before him was almost identical with that of Mr. Courtney.

Death of Samuel Morris.

   Mr. Samuel Morris died at 9 o'clock this morning at his residence 22 Arthur-ave. He was 80 years of age and leaves nine children, Mrs. Darius Clark of Cortland, Mrs. John Hakes of Scott, Mrs. B. Randall of Kansas City, Mo., Darius Morris of New Hope, Uriah Morris of Rochester, Samuel Morris of Cortland, Lewis Morris of Glen Haven, Richard Morris of Cortland and Umphrey Morris of Syracuse.

   The funeral will be held from the house at 10 o'clock Sunday morning. Burial in Scott.

The Armenian Mass Meeting.

   The committee of arrangements for the union meeting at the Opera House next Sunday evening have completed their work. Rev. A. Chapman has been invited to preside and the following gentle men have consented to deliver short addresses: Rev. Amos Watkins, Rev. J. J. McLoghlin, Mr. Wm. H. Clark and Prof. J. E. Banta. Music will be provided by a special male quartet and Williams church orchestra has been invited to assist.

   The audience will be asked to contribute at least $100 for the relief of the

Armenian sufferers to be sent through the Red Cross society whose agents are now on the ground. The churches of the village are all requested to unite in this service and all heard from have gladly consented. The occasion for this gathering appeals so strongly to the hearts of the entire community that it is believed that it will be one of the largest and most interesting meetings ever held in our village.

   LISTON H. PEARCE,

   Chairman of Committee.

BREVITIES.

   —Mr. Earl B. Cummings, formerly of Preble, has accepted a position as salesman in the clothing store of F. Daehler.

   —The case of John C. Seager against A. D. Andrews was settled without coming to trial before Justice Dowd this morning,

   —In the annual supply bill introduced in the assembly yesterday contained an item of $5,000 for improvements at the Cortland Normal school.

   —The Alpha C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. M. E. Cummings, 33 Clayton-ave., Monday evening, March 16, at 7:30 o'clock. Roll call, Holmes.

   —New advertisements to-day are—A. S. Burgess, grand rebuilding sale, page 8; Bennett & Hartwell, bread, page 4; W. J. Perkins, cosmo, page 8.

   —A meeting led by the Salvation Army will be held Wednesday night in the W. C. T. U. rooms, also on Friday night and on Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock,

   —Car No. 9 on the Homer line was taken off the road this morning to substitute a new wheel for one which has grown flat. No. 7 took its place and no crosstown [trolley] car is running to-day.

   —There will be an athletic entertainment at the Keator opera house, Homer, to-morrow night, including eight 4 round bouts between local amateurs from Cortland and Homer. Considerable interest is taken in the bout between Mahoney and Shaughnessey, as well as in all the others.

   —Upon closer examination it was found that Mrs. Polly Persons of 61

Groton-ave., who fell on the ice near her house yesterday, received an impacted fracture of the right hip, Mrs. Persons is over seventy years or age and will be laid up for some time. Dr. Higgins attends her.

   —Representatives of the Lehigh Valley railroad company were in town recently looking over the old railroad survey, which includes Gooseville, Delphi, Oran, Manlius, Fayetteville and Syracuse. If this survey proves to be the shortest and most feasible route to Syracuse the company may put the new road through this section.—Delphi Cor., Syracuse Standard.

   —Patented artificial skin is now produced in Germany. It is made by removing the outer and inner mucus membranes of the intestines of animals and partly digesting them in a pepsin solution. The fibres are then treated with tannin and gallic acid, the result being a tissue which can be applied to wounds like a natural skin and is entirely absorbed in the process of healing.

   —General Passenger Agent Charles S. Lee of the Lehigh Valley railroad and a party will make an inspection of this division of the road in their special car on Thursday and Friday. Thursday will be devoted to the portion of the road west of Ithaca and they will stay in Ithaca that night, pushing on toward Cortland and the east end of the road Friday morning.

"Michael Strogoff" Friday Night.

   The novel of ''Michael Strogoff" by Jules Verne and the dramatization by

Adolph D'Ennery need no introduction. Under the management of Mr. Morris the revival will take on a dignity worthy of the theme. The dramatic version of the novel, which Mr. Morris and his splendid company will present in Cortland on Friday evening, March 13, preserves all the intense interest of the story and is further enhanced by the art of the scene painter and the costumer. A succession of beautiful stage pictures are disclosed during the action of the play, it being merely a matter of choice as to which scene is deserving of the most praise. The music has been composed expressly for this production.

   The large company has been selected with great care. The light effects have been carefully considered, and with the entire performance under the personal direction of Mr. Morris, theatre goers will probably have a great treat in store for them.